Interview study, 2000
Are depression and personality disorders linked to PMDD?
Yes. Women with depression are about 9 times more likely to have PMDD, and avoidant personality disorder is also linked to PMDD (mainly in women over 30). However, the study cannot show whether depression causes PMDD, PMDD causes depression, or if both are caused by something else.
What they did
Researchers evaluated 43 women with PMDD and 85 women without PMDD (controls). All women tracked their symptoms daily during two menstrual cycles. Then they received detailed psychiatric interviews and completed questionnaires about depression, hostility, and personality disorders.
What they found
Women with mild or moderate depression were about 9 times more likely to have PMDD (odds ratio = 9.23, 95% confidence interval 3.98-21.39). This strong link between depression and PMDD was found in both younger and older women. In women over 30, avoidant personality disorder was significantly linked to PMDD (odds ratio = 8.26, p < 0.05).
What it means for you
Depression and PMDD are strongly connected, suggesting they may be related disorders or part of the same spectrum rather than completely separate conditions. However, the study cannot show the direction of causation or whether both are caused by an underlying biological factor. The study focuses only on women already diagnosed with PMDD.
9.23
times more likely to have PMDD if depressed
43
women with PMDD
85
control women without PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Personality disorders and depressive symptoms in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- De Ronchi D, Muro A, Marziani A et al.
- Journal
- Psychotherapy and psychosomatics
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Interview study
- Participants
- 85
- What was tested
- None - interviews and questionnaires with prospective daily symptom tracking
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000012363
Topics
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